‘Never be ashamed of hard work’

Never be ashamed of doing ordinary jobs that help you bring food to the table.

These are the powerful words of Alisi Tokalau, a woman who has been selling sasa brooms in Labasa Town since 2016.

As the world celebrated International Women’s Day last Saturday, Tokalau stands as a proud example of resilience and dedication, contributing to the Northern economy in a meaningful way.

“Every household uses sasa brooms for various purposes to clean the house, ward off bad omens, decorate for special occasions, kill insects, and as a traditional gift for guests at ceremonies,” Ms Tokalau said.

Although selling brooms every week by knocking on doors in Labasa Town isn’t easy, she finds motivation in the responsibility she carries for her family.

The 35-year-old mother of five never imagined selling sasa brooms until she married and moved to Yalava Village in Macuata.

She feels blessed to have access to natural resources, such as the coconut trees in her area, which provide the raw materials needed to make the brooms.

It takes her two days to prepare 25 brooms. By selling them for $5 each, she earns $125 weekly. From this income, she covers grocery shopping and also contributes to her village’s women’s group and the church when fundraising programmes arise.

Despite her education only reaching Year 11 at Shiri Guru Nanak College in Labasa, Ms Tokalau didn’t stop learning. She furthered her studies, earning a Certificate Level 2 in Catering from the Technical College of Fiji in Naduna, Labasa. She also worked as a kindergarten teacher for five years at Vunivutu and Yalava Kindergartens.

“I am not ashamed to sell sasa brooms because it’s one of the easiest ways to make money,” Ms Tokalau said.

“I never return home with leftovers because there are always customers in Labasa Town, even pedestrians who buy from me.”

To make her products more accessible, Ms Tokalau sells her brooms at a lower price than those in the Labasa market, a strategy that has helped her overcome challenges in her business.

“To all the women reading my story, I want to encourage you to be proud of the work you do, whether it’s a simple job or one in a big office,” she said.

“At least we are providing for our families, being independent, and setting a good example for our children to work hard and persevere.”

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